Iodine Fact Sheet for Consumers - National Institutes of ...

Iodine Fact Sheet for Consumers

What is iodine and what does it do?

Iodine is a mineral found in some foods. The body needs iodine to make thyroid

hormones. These hormones control the body¡¯s metabolism and many other

important functions. The body also needs thyroid hormones for proper bone and

brain development during pregnancy and infancy. Getting enough iodine is

important for everyone, especially infants and women who are pregnant.

How much iodine do I need?

The amount of iodine you need each day depends on your age. Average daily

recommended amounts are listed below in micrograms (mcg).

Life Stage

The use of iodized salt is the

most widely used strategy to

control iodine deficiency.

Recommended Amount

Birth to 6 months

110 mcg

Infants 7¨C12 months

130 mcg

Children 1¨C8 years

90 mcg

Children 9¨C13 years

120 mcg

Teens 14¨C18 years

150 mcg

Adults

150 mcg

Pregnant teens and women

220 mcg

Breastfeeding teens and women

290 mcg

What foods provide iodine?

Iodine is found naturally in some foods and is also added to salt that is labeled as

¡°iodized¡±. You can get recommended amounts of iodine by eating a variety of foods,

including the following:

? Fish (such as cod and tuna), seaweed, shrimp, and other seafood, which are

generally rich in iodine

? Dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese) and eggs, which are also good

sources of iodine

? Iodized salt, which is readily available in the United States and many other countries

*Processed foods, such as canned soups, almost never contain iodized salt. In

addition, specialty salts, such as sea salt, kosher salt, Himalayan salt, and fleur de

sel, are not usually iodized. Product labels will indicate if the salt is ¡°iodized¡± or

provides iodide.

What kinds of iodine dietary supplements are available?

Iodine is available in dietary supplements, usually in the form of potassium iodide

or sodium iodide. Many multivitamin-mineral supplements contain iodine. Dietary

supplements of iodine-containing kelp (a seaweed) are also available.

Am I getting enough iodine?

Most people in the United States get enough iodine from foods and beverages.

However, certain groups of people are more likely than others to have trouble getting

enough iodine:

2 ? IODINE FACT SHEET FOR CONSUMERS

? People who do not use iodized salt. Adding iodine to salt is

the most widely used strategy to control iodine deficiency.

Currently, about 88% of households worldwide use

iodized salt.

? Pregnant women. Women who are pregnant need about 50%

more iodine than other women to provide enough iodine

for their baby. Surveys show that many pregnant women in

the United States may not get quite enough iodine, although

experts do not know whether this affects their babies.

? People who follow a vegan diet or who eat few or no dairy

products, seafood, and eggs. Seafood, eggs, milk, and milk

products are among the best sources of iodine. People who

don¡¯t eat much of these foods or don¡¯t eat them at all might

not get enough iodine.

? People living in regions with iodine-deficient soils who eat

mostly local foods. These soils produce crops that have low

iodine levels. Among the regions with the most iodine-poor

soil are mountainous areas, such as the Himalayas, the Alps,

and the Andes regions, as well as river valleys in South and

Southeast Asia.

? People who get marginal amounts of iodine and who also eat

foods containing goitrogens. Goitrogens are substances that

interfere with the way the body uses iodine. They are present

in some plant foods including soy, and cruciferous vegetables

such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

For most people in the United States who get adequate

amounts of iodine, eating reasonable amounts of foods

containing goitrogens is not a concern.

What happens if I don¡¯t get enough iodine?

Iodine deficiency is uncommon in the United States and

Canada. People who don¡¯t get enough iodine cannot make

sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone. This can cause many

problems. In pregnant women, severe iodine deficiency can

permanently harm the fetus by causing stunted growth,

intellectual disability, and delayed sexual development. Less

severe iodine deficiency can cause lower-than-average IQ in

infants and children and decrease adults¡¯ ability to work and

think clearly. Goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland, is often the

first visible sign of iodine deficiency.

What are some effects of iodine on health?

Scientists are studying iodine to understand how it affects health.

Here are some examples of what this research has shown.

Fetal and infant development

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need to get enough

iodine for their babies to grow and develop properly. Breastfed

infants get iodine from breast milk. However, the iodine content

of breast milk depends on how much iodine the mother gets.

To make adequate amounts of iodine available for proper fetal

and infant development, several national and international

groups recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women

and infants take iodine supplements. The American Thyroid

Association recommends that women who are pregnant,

planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding take a daily

supplement containing 150 mcg iodine as potassium iodide.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has similar guidance.

However, only about half the prenatal multivitamins sold in

the United States contain iodine.

Cognitive function during childhood

Severe iodine deficiency during childhood has harmful effects

on the development of the brain and nervous system. The

effects of mild iodine deficiency during childhood are more

difficult to measure, but mild iodine deficiency might cause

subtle problems with neurological development.

Giving iodine supplements to children with mild iodine

deficiency improves their reasoning abilities and overall

cognitive function. In children living in iodine-deficient areas,

iodine supplements seem to improve both physical and mental

development. More study is needed to fully understand the

effects of mild iodine deficiency and of iodine supplements on

cognitive function.

Fibrocystic breast disease

Although not harmful, fibrocystic breast disease causes lumpy,

painful breasts. It mainly affects women of reproductive age

but can also occur during menopause. Very high doses of

iodine supplements might reduce the pain and other symptoms

of fibrocystic breast disease, but more study is necessary to

confirm this. Check with your health care provider before

taking iodine for this condition, especially because iodine can

be unsafe at high doses.

Radiation-induced thyroid cancer

Nuclear accidents can release radioactive iodine into the

environment, increasing the risk of thyroid cancer in people

who are exposed to the radioactive iodine, especially children.

People with iodine deficiency who are exposed to radioactive

iodine are especially at risk of developing thyroid cancer. The

U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved potassium

iodide as a thyroid-blocking agent to reduce the risk of thyroid

cancer in radiation emergencies.

3 ? IODINE FACT SHEET FOR CONSUMERS

Can iodine be harmful?

Yes, if you get too much. Getting high levels of iodine can

cause some of the same symptoms as iodine deficiency, including

goiter (an enlarged thyroid gland). High iodine intakes can

also cause thyroid gland inflammation and thyroid cancer.

Getting a very large dose of iodine (several grams, for example)

can cause burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach; fever;

stomach pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; weak pulse; and coma.

The daily upper limits for iodine are listed below. These levels

do not apply to people who are taking iodine for medical

reasons under the care of a doctor.

Life Stage

Upper Limit

Birth to 12 months

Not established

Children 1¨C3 years

200 mcg

Children 4¨C8 years

300 mcg

Children 9¨C13 years

600 mcg

Teens 14¨C18 years

900 mcg

Adults

1,100 mcg

Does iodine interact with medications or

other dietary supplements?

Yes. Iodine supplements can interact or interfere with medicines

that you take. Here are several examples:

? Iodine supplements might interact with anti-thyroid

medications such as methimazole (Tapazole?), used to treat

hyperthyroidism. Taking high doses of iodine with

anti-thyroid medications could cause your body to produce

too little thyroid hormone.

? Taking potassium iodide with medicines for high blood

pressure known as ACE inhibitors could raise the amount of

potassium in your blood to an unsafe level. ACE inhibitors

include benazepril (Lotensin?), lisinopril (Prinivil? and

Zestril?), and fosinopril (Monopril?).

? The amount of potassium in your blood can also get too

high if you take potassium iodide with potassium-sparing

diuretics, such as spironolactone (Aldactone?) and

amiloride (Midamor?).

Tell your doctor, pharmacist, and other healthcare providers

about any dietary supplements and prescription or over-the-

counter medicines you take. They can tell you if these dietary

supplements might interact with your medicines. They can

also explain whether the medicines you take might interfere

with how your body absorbs or uses iodine or other nutrients.

Iodine and healthful eating

People should get most of their nutrients from food, advises

the federal government¡¯s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Foods contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and other

substances that benefit health. In some cases, fortified foods

and dietary supplements may provide nutrients that otherwise

may be consumed in less-than-recommended amounts. For

more information about building a healthy diet, refer to the

Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the U.S. Department of

Agriculture¡¯s MyPlate.

Where can I find out more about iodine?

For general information on iodine:

? Office of Dietary Supplements Health Professional

Fact Sheet on Iodine

? Iodine in diet, MedLinePlus?

For more advice on choosing dietary supplements:

? Office of Dietary Supplements Frequently Asked Questions:

Which brand(s) of dietary supplements should I purchase?

For information about building a healthy diet:

? MyPlate

? Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Disclaimer

This fact sheet by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) provides information that

should not take the place of medical advice. We encourage you

to talk to your healthcare providers (doctor, registered dietitian, pharmacist, etc.) about your interest in, questions about,

or use of dietary supplements and what may be best for your

overall health. Any mention in this publication of a specific

product or service, or recommendation from an organization

or professional society, does not represent an endorsement by

ODS of that product, service, or expert advice.

For more information on this and other supplements, please visit our

Web site at: or e-mail us at: ods@

Updated: July 28, 2022

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